Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

Re “Exemptions Were Key to Vote on Gay Marriage” (news article, June 26):

The leaders of the Societies for Ethical Culture applaud the New York Legislature for approving, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for signing, the law allowing all New Yorkers to marry whom they choose. While we are included in the list of those exempted from performing same-sex marriages, such “protection” is neither needed nor wanted.

Ethical Culture’s leaders have long solemnized unions between loving and committed same-sex couples and now rejoice in the success of our hard-fought battle to make such unions legal.